PartialLogo
International

Gosden has grounds for concern over Coronet's chance in Prix Jean Romanet

Coronet heads the field in the Prix Jean Romanet
Coronet heads the field in the Prix Jean RomanetCredit: Edward Whitaker

Darley Prix Jean Romanet (Group 1) 1m2f, 4yo+ f&m | SSR

Despite admirable consistency throughout her career, it took Coronet 11 bites at the cherry to earn a first Group 1 in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last month, but with both John Gosden and Frankie Dettori remaining in rampant form the chances of adding a second without further delay appear strong.

Her overall record of four seconds and three thirds at the top level adds solidity to that breakthrough victory – which came at the expense of Ziyad and stablemate Lah Ti Dar – while Gosden is unconcerned as she drops in trip to face her own sex.

The forecast heavy rain is not likely to be in her favour, although it was riding no worse than soft on Saturday.

"Obviously there is a lot of rain forecast overnight into Sunday and it could go heavy," said Gosden, "We know Coronet handles soft but it could well be specialist ground come post time. She's freshened nicely since her Group 1 win at Saint Cloud and we've been very happy with her of late."

'Everything in Wild Illusion's favour,' says Appleby

Wild Illusion enjoyed an exhilarating second half to her 2018 campaign, with wins in the Nassau and the Prix de l'Opera before pushing America's champion three-year-old filly Sistercharlie to the limit in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

There was no shame in a close-up sixth in the Prix d'Ispahan on her return to action before putting in a rarely uncompetitive effort behind Iridessa in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, a race in which more than one filly found life tough.

Appleby said: "Wild Illusion found the going a little too quick at the Curragh but should find conditions at Deauville more to her liking.

"We feel she appreciates some ease in ground these days, while she won two Group 1 races over this distance last season.

"Everything should be in her favour and she will be a major player if she can return to the level of form she showed during her three-year-old campaign."

Worth Waiting back on winning track

Worth Waiting produced one of the more decisive performances of the Deauville meeting 12 months ago when dominating her Classic contemporaries in the Prix Minerve over an extended mile and a half.

That earned her a tilt at the Group 1 Prix Vermeille, where she was fourth to Kitesurf.

This year David Lanigan has brought her back to intermediate trips, a ploy that paid off instantly when Worth Waiting ran out a fine winner of the Dahlia Stakes, before also finding a fast-ground Curragh not to her liking in the Pretty Polly.

The big question she must answer is whether, back at the scene of her Minerve triumph, she will cope with by far the softest ground she has encountered.

Worth Waiting -James Doyle wins from the fieldThe Charm Spirit Dahlia Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares)Newmarket 5.5.19©mark Cranhamphoto.com
Worth Waiting -James Doyle wins from the fieldThe Charm Spirit Dahlia Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares)Newmarket 5.5.19©mark Cranhamphoto.comCredit: Mark Cranham

What the others say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Red Tea
It's a big step up in class and the ground is an unknown for her. She's in good shape and we're hoping for a big run but it's going to be a big ask. She's improved with every run this season so hopefully she can improve again.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of I Can Fly
She's in good form. She's been running over a mile and is stepping up in trip here but she should handle the ease in the ground. She's taking her racing very well.

Andre Fabre, trainer of Musis Amica
She needs competition. She's in good shape after being off for such a long time and now she's approaching her best, so she should be perfect for Longchamp. Soft ground will suit her and she will run well.

Freddy Head, trainer of With You
I'm very happy with her condition and I expect her to improve again on her last run. She won on extreme ground at two and it was quite soft here when she won the Rothschild last year.


Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news


Scott BurtonFrance correspondent

Published on 17 August 2019inInternational

Last updated 09:20, 18 August 2019

iconCopy